Remembering Paul Briones

With profound sadness, we say goodbye to a cherished member of our organization and community, Paul Briones, who passed away on March 26, 2025, surrounded by family. Paul was a beacon of kindness, integrity, and dedication, leaving a legacy that deeply touched everyone who knew him.


Paul’s guidance on our board was invaluable, shaping initiatives with his wisdom and genuine care. His ability to blend strategic insight with compassion helped us achieve meaningful goals, impacting our organization and the community profoundly.


At the heart of Paul’s life was his family and his faith. With Terry, his beloved wife of 32 years, he raised five children, cherishing every shared moment, from family dinners to cheering on the Lobos. His devotion to them was deeply rooted in his strong Catholic faith, which guided his practice of the law, shaped his values, inspired his heartfelt generosity toward others, and ultimately carried him home to the loving arms of his Creator and Father.


Paul’s kindness, vision, and unwavering service will continue to inspire us. Our condolences go out to Terry, their children Francine, David, Monica, Anna, Charles, his parents, Felix and Vi, and all his loved ones. We are forever grateful for his time with us and will honor his memory by carrying on the work he held so dear.


May Paul’s legacy of love and service remain a guiding light for all.

Working Together - The deKay Story

December 3, 2024
From the time he was a child, Matt deKay has been guided by a life of service. His father’s mealtime prayer always closed with the words, “Let us not forget those less fortunate than ourselves.” The resounding words of a father’s earnest prayer shaped his son’s perspective on the importance of helping others. Matt’s life and chosen career in medicine continue to inspire a new generation called to help others and to create solutions to the social problems our community faces. Through his volunteer efforts at Catholic Charities, Matt and his wife Jeanette became acutely aware of the problem of homelessness in the Four Corners, the deKay’s knew something more had to be done and believed they were called to help. The timing of the Four Corners Foundation is not, as Matt fervently believes, a coincidence. As the deKay’s began sharing their vision with friends and colleagues, the Four Corners Foundation was established. Every member of the board came forward of their own accord willing to offer their professional experience, time, and heart to the humanitarian work. The Four Corners Foundation has from its beginning been an organization seeking to combine its efforts and resources with other successful, responsible not-for-profit programs and services already established in the area. This unique approach of local collaboration maximizes the impact made within the local community. Doing good in the present generates more good in the future. When we take action and work together to create solutions to social problems, the effort comes back to the community tenfold. We do well to remember those less fortunate because by helping the least of these, we are fulfilling a higher purpose and creating a better community and world.

Gifts of Warmth and Comfort - The Story of Rebecca Gomez

December 2, 2024
Rebecca Gomez, 86 years young when the PATH Shelter was built, wanted to do something for the residents coming into the new emergency shelter. While the new shelter was being built, Rebecca and her family were busy “building” new handmade quilts. As construction continued, the number of quilts increased until there were over 100 handmade quilts – one for every bed at the new shelter. The Gomez family’s gift was truly a family affair inspired by their mother and grandmother, Rebecca. She wanted residents to know the comfort and security of a quilt made especially for them.

Generational Giving - Briones Story

December 1, 2024
The Briones family has built a lasting legacy in the Four Corners region. For three generations, they have made a profound impact on the local community through acts of generosity and service. Guided by their belief that giving back and serving others are essential family values, the Briones family has invested in creating a brighter future for generations to come. Grandparents Felix and Vi Briones have lived in the Farmington area since 1959, dedicating themselves to their community and church with remarkable generosity. Their son Paul, along with his wife Terry, carried on this legacy, instilling the same values of service and giving in their five children. “It is important to teach our kids the responsibility to take care of those in need,” Paul shared. Inspired by his parents' ongoing acts of charity, Paul remarked, “They only continued working in order to continue giving.” The next generation of the Briones family embraced this commitment to service wholeheartedly. Paul and Terry encouraged their children to find their own ways to give back to the Four Corners Foundation. A significant moment came a few years ago when their children collectively decided to forgo cable television, using the savings to contribute to the Foundation’s emergency housing project. Today, their eldest, Francine, has graduated from college and continues to support the Foundation through her company’s United Way account.  Until his passing in March 2025, Paul managed a thriving law practice, while also dedicating countless hours to pro bono legal work for the Foundation. Despite the personal sacrifices he and Terry made, their unwavering commitment to helping those in need remained steadfast. The Briones family’s generational example of service and giving stands as a powerful inspiration. Like ripples in a pond, the good we do carries forward, creating positive impacts for years to come. While we deeply miss Paul on the FCF Board, we are proud to honor his memory in the vital work we continue for the underserved in San Juan County.